The Federal Trade Commission has reached a partial settlement with the principal defendants in its case against the payday lending operation AMG Services Inc., resolving allegations that the defendants threatened consumers in debt collection calls and violated the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, or EFTA. The agreement bars the settling defendants from using threats of arrest and lawsuits as […]
Monthly Archives: July 2013
FTC Order Restores Competition in Market for Software Used in Automotive Recycling
The Federal Trade Commission will require Solera Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of specialized software to the automotive recycling industry, to divest assets to resolve FTC charges that Solera’s 2012 purchase of rival Actual Systems of America, Inc. was anticompetitive. Solera will sell the U.S. and Canadian yard management systems (YMS) software business that it […]
FTC To Hold ID Theft Webinar for the Blind and Visually Impaired July 31
The Federal Trade Commission will host a webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern on July 31 for blind and visually impaired consumers with information on how to protect themselves from identity theft. The webinar, “Talking Through Identity Theft: A Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired,” will address the full array of identity theft in the […]
General Electric Agrees to Settlement with FTC That Allows the Purchase of Avio’s Aviation Business
A proposed settlement would prevent General Electric Company (GE) from interfering with the development of a key engine component designed by Italy’s Avio S.p.A. (Avio) for rival aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, resolving Federal Trade Commission charges that GE’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Avio’s aviation business would be anticompetitive. GE, based in Fairfield, […]
Operators of Postal Jobs Scheme Banned from Selling Employment Services
Under settlement orders with the Federal Trade Commission announced today, the operators of an alleged federal jobs scam have been banned from selling employment products or services. Last year, as part of Operation Lost Opportunity, the FTC charged Career Exams, Inc., O’Brien Marketing, Inc., Jeryn B. Lee, and Derek Jackson with running deceptive ads for nonexistent U.S. […]
‘Free iPhone’ Text Message Spammer Settles FTC Charges
An Internet marketer has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that he blasted consumers with millions of deceptive spam text messages. Henry Nolan Kelly was the subject of one of a series of FTC complaints filed in March against those responsible for sending millions of spam text messages to consumers with false promises of free gift […]
FTC Testifies before Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Debt Collection and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Federal Trade Commission told a U.S. Senate subcommittee that it continues to crack down on unlawful debt collection practices through an active program of vigorous law enforcement, education and public outreach, and research and policy initiatives. Testifying on behalf of the FTC before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Subcommittee on Financial […]
FTC, Partners To Kick Off First Military Consumer Protection Day July 17
The Federal Trade Commission is teaming up with other government agencies and organizations to mark the first Military Consumer Protection Day (MCPD) on July 17 and kick off a year-round campaign to empower military and veterans’ communities with resources to deal with managing money, protecting personal information, and avoiding scams. The FTC, Department of Defense, […]
Marketers of Unproven Bed Bug and Head Lice Treatments Settle FTC Charges
Two marketers of unproven cedar oil-based remedies for bed bugs and head lice have agreed to enter into settlements with the Federal Trade Commission that prohibit the allegedly deceptive claims, and require pre-approval from the Food and Drug Administration for any future treatment claims about head lice products. The settlements resolve deceptive advertising charges the FTC filed last […]
FTC Releases Draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018
The Federal Trade Commission has approved the release of the agency’s draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018 for stakeholder review and comment, as required under the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRAMA), using guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. Every four years, each government agency is required to prepare and submit […]